Update: MLL Semifinal Games Still Set to Play Saturday, Second Game Moved Up 20 Minutes; All Still L

Major League Lacrosse Championship semifinal games are still scheduled to play Saturday, as cities up and down the East Coast brace for Hurricane Irene.

The semifinals are set for Saturday, with Boston vs. Chesapeake at noon and Denver vs. Hamilton at 2:40 p.m. The second game has been moved ahead 20 minutes to account for the weather forecast. All games will still be shown live on ESPN2.

The championship game is set for 3 p.m. Sunday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, also scheduled for ESPN2.

Weather forecasts called for the brunt of the storm to hit in the evening Saturday. Commissioner Dave Gross said Friday evening that he expects the weather not to have a big effect on the games, with the storm moving in after the games and likely out of the area by Sunday. Gross said there was no change in plans for Sunday's start time at this moment.e.

Maryland had already declared a State of Emergency because of the impending storm. On Friday, the City of Annapolis did the same. Mayor Joshua J. Cohen declared a State of Emergency within the city limits, effective 10:00 a.m. Friday, due to the anticipated impact of Hurricane Irene.

The mayor strongly urged residents in low-lying areas to evacuate by Saturday afternoon. The Annapolis High School will open as a pet-friendly shelter at 4 p.m. Saturday.
The Annapolis 10-Miler race, scheduled for Sunday in Annapolis has been canceled and will likely not be rescheduled. Also, the Silopanna Music Festival that was schedule for Saturday near the city has also been canceled.

Gross spoke to Inside Lacrosse shortly after the league's Board of Managers were in meetings Friday afternoon, where many topics were discussed and the coin flip between the Charlotte Hounds and Ohio Machine took place.

The Hounds won the coin toss and chose first pick in the league's Collegiate Draft, which is set for Jan. 13. The Ohio Machine then receive the first pick in the Expansion Draft (Dec. 7) and the Supplemental Draft (Dec. 14).